AFTER much criticism by the public and politicians, four men have been charged under the Anti-Gang Act 2018, for engaging in gang activities. Photo: Internet Source

They are due to appear before an Arima Magistrate today, to answer to charges.

The accused are the first group to be charged under the new Anti-Gang Legislation, which was passed in May 2018.

Accused are Renaldo Gomez, 31, Kevon McIntyre, 26, Kenson Williams, 32, of Jitman Drive, Five Rivers, Arouca and Avinash Suchit, 19 of Back Street, Cane Farm, Arouca.

They are jointly charged with the offence of gang membership.

Gomez faces additional charges of being a gang leader, encouraging gang membership, retaliatory action, counselling a gang and preventing a gang member from leaving a gang.

Three of the accused were held following three weeks of intensive investigations by officers of the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU) and Northern Division (ND), after they received information of gang activity in the Jitman Drive District.

Advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, throughout the investigations which was supervised by Snr. Supt. Michael Daniel of ND and Snr. Supt. Lloyd Mc Alpin of OCIU.